Pyrophoric lighting mechanism



Nov. 22, 1938. L. v. ARONSON PYROPHORIC LIGHTlNG MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 24, 1956 INVENTOR mais Vronsz//z Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PYROPHORIC LIGHTING MECHANISM Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey 4 canna- (cl. s1- 4.1)

My invention relates to pyrophoric lighting mechanism of the type utilizing a torch for actuating the sparking device thereof.

In accordance with my invention, the force 5 applied by the torch of the pyrophoric lighting mechanism is transmitted to the sparking unit in an advantageous manner by any one of a plurality of improved devices.

Various other objects, advantages and chary acteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following description.

My invention resides in the pyrophoric lighting mechanism, features, combinations and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 65,265, filed February 24, 1936.'

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of some ,of the forms thereof,

reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in ele- `vation, and is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 with some of the parts shown in different positions:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4

with some of the parts shown in different positions.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Ml represents a main casing which, in

any suitable manner, is associated with a fuel casing FI. The main casing MI comprises a top wall 40 serving, in the manner hereinafter described, as a support for the various parts of the pyrophoric lighting mechanism.

As herein shown, the lighting mechanism of Figs. l, 2 and 3 comprises a serrated wheel 4| which is freely rotatable on a pin or axle 42 horizontally disposed in standards 43 upstanding from and secured to the top casing wall 40. Co-

actable with the serrated wheel 4| is the usual pyrophoric element 44 which, in part, projects from a tube 45 suitably anchored in position interiorly of the main casing Mi, said tube 45 containing a helical spring, not shown, maintained under compression in the usual manner so as to bias the pyrophoric element 44 into engagement with the serrated wheel 4|.

Disposed in side-by-side relation with respect to the serrated wheel 4| is a pinion 46, this pinion 4being loosely mounted upon the pin 42 the 5 same as the serrated wheel 4|. Coactable with the pinion 46 is a gear segment 41a forming the terminal portion of one arm of a lever 41 pivoted at 48 on a member 49 anchored in suitable manner to the top casing wall 40. The other 10 arm of the lever 41 terminates in an elongated slot 41b which receives a pin 50 horizontally anchored in a plunger 5l which is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in a' tubular member 52 secured to and depending from the 15 top casing wall 40. As shown, the tubular member 52 is formed with alined elongated slots 52a through which the pin 50 extends, an arrangement of tlLf-l character permitting vertical reciprocatory movement of the plunger 5|. As 20 appears from a consideration of Fig. 2, the plunger 5I is suitably biased in an upward direction, as by a helical spring 53.

Any suitable arrangement such, for example, as described in application Serial No. 65,265, 25 filed Feb. 24, 1936 may be provided for clutching the serrated wheel 4| to the pinion 46 when the latter is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, under the control of the lever 41, such arrangement, as will be understood, permitting the 30 pinion 46 to slip with respect to the stationary serrated wheel 4| when said pinion 46 is moved clockwise, Fig. 3.

In operation, a torch T of suitable character is withdrawn from its seat and placed in en- 35 gagement with a depression 5|a formed in the upper end of the plunger 5|. Then, by the application of downward pressure, the plunger 5| is moved downwardly from its Fig. 2 position to the position thereof shown in Fig. 3. In so do- 40 ing, the pin 50 rides in the slots 41h, 52a and causes the lever 41 to swing from its Fig. 2 to its Fig. 3 position. As a result, the serrated wheel 4| is given a step of movement in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, to thereby produce a 45 shower of pyrophoric sparks which are projected toward and into engagement with the exposed end of the wick 30 as the torch T is moved downwardly in the manner described. In this way, a freely burning flame is produced at the end of 5o the torch T and, when this flame has served its intended purpose, said torch may be seated in and on the casing MI. y

Upon removal of the torch T from the tubular member 6|, the latter rises under the influence 55 of the spring 53 and returns the parts to their normal positions as shown in Fig. 2.

It will readily be understood that movement of the torch T transmits energy directly to the serrated wheel and that such energy is not stored in any spring, or equivalent. As a result, a stream of pyrophoric sparks are produced for an appreciable period of time and, since the fuel-charged wick is passed through these sparks, it necessarily results that the desired burning flame is quickly and efficiently produced. In the appended claims, the references to the transmission of force "directly to said sparking wheel shall be understood as describing the transfer of force through a mechanical connection and as excluding the storage of such force in a spring, or equivalent.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have illustrated an inventive arrangement wherein the shower of pyrophoric sparks is produced suddenly by release of the energy stored in a spring. Thus, in said Figs. 4, 5 and 6, M2 represents a main casing with which, in suitable manner, a fuel casing F2 is associated. The main casing M2 comprises a top wall which, in generally the same manner as hereinbefore described, forms a support for the various parts of the lighting mechanism.

Upstanding from the top casing wall 10 are the spaced standards 1| which support a pin or member 12 horizontally xed in position thereon. The member 12, in freely rotatable manner, supports a pair of side-by-side wheels 13, 14, the wheel 13 being a pinion and the wheel 14 being serrated on its outer peripheral surface so as to be coactable with a pyrophoric element 15 which, in part, proJects from a tube 16 extending downwardly through the main casing M2 and anchored thereto, the tube 16, as well known in the art, containing a helical spring, not shown, suitably maintained under compression so as to bias the pyrophoric element 15 into engagement with the serrated wheel 14.

Coactable withthe pinion 13 are the gear teeth 11a forming the end of a lever 11 mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 18 supported by a plate 19 secured to and depending from the top casing wall 18, the lever 11 being suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, as by a helical spring 8D having one end secured to the plate 19 and the other end thereof secured to said lever 11.

Mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in the top casing wall 10 and in an angular section 19a of the plate 19 is an actuating member 8| which, at its upper end, terminates in an anguiar section 8|a movable along a vertical path disposed above the top casing wall 10 and said angular section 8|a having a depression 8|b formed therein for the reception` of the lower end of a torch and this depression being in line with the plane of the wheel 14. The actuating member 8| is biased in an upward direction from the position shown in Fig. 6 by a helical spring 82 which is conned between the angular plate section 19a and a shouldered section of the actuating member 8|.

In accordance with the invention, the actuating member 8| is adapted to be connected to the lever 11 so that energy may be transferred from said actuating member 8| to said lever 11. 'Ihe mechanism for accomplishing this purpose may be of any suitable character and, as herein shown, such mechanism' comprises a lever 83 which is pivoted at 84 to the actuating member 8|, said lever 83 being biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, by a leaf spring 85, or equivalent.

The lever 83 terminates in a notched end which coacts with a notched wheel 86 mounted for rotatable movement on a pin 81 extending horizontally from the plate 19, the Wheel 86 also being coactable with a lateral section 11b of the lever 11.v

Normally, the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the lever 83 is illustrated as coacting with the lower surface of the top wall 10 to prevent further upward movement of the member 8| under the influence of the spring 82.

When thus positioned, the lower end of the rod 3| of the torch T, or equivalent, may be disposed in the depression 8|b of the actuating member 8| and said member 8| lowered to the position shown in Fig. 6. In so doing, the lever 83 remains in engagement with a notched surface of the wheel 88 and causes said wheel to move in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6. As the wheel 86 thus moves, an inclined surface 86a thereof engages the lever section 11b and causes the lever 11 to swing in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 4, with resultant expansion and storage of energy in the spring 8|).

As will readily be understood, a clutch mechanism is interposed between the two wheels 13 and 14 and, when the lever 11 moves as just described, the arrangement of this clutch mechanism is such that the pinion 13 idles with respect to the serrated wheel 14 which remains stationary at this time.

Eventually. as the wheel 86 moves a further slight increased distance in a clockwise direction beyond the position shown in Fig. 6, the aforesaid inclined surface 86a of the wheel 86 becomes disengaged from the lever section 11b whereupon the lever 11, by a snapping action, moves, under the influence of the spring 80, in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6. As a result, the pinion 13 is rotated counter-clockwise, Fig. 6, and, by the clutch mechanism last described, said pinion 13 causes the serrated wheel 14 to move similarly in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 6, whereby a shower of sparks are produced and projected toward the wick at the lower, end of the torch T which, meanwhile, has assumed the position` shown in said Fig. 6.

The torch T may now be used for igniting a'`l pipe, cigarette or for such other purpose as may be desired. As soon as said torch is removed from the actuating member 8|, the latter rises under the influence of the spring 82 and all of the parts take a position such as illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the mechanism is in condition for subsequent operation as desired.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be under. stood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A pyrophoric lighter comprising a receptacle, a sparking device mounted in fixed position on said receptacle and comprising a sparking wheel and a pyrophoric element biased into engagement therewith, a lever disposed interiorly of said receptacle and connected to said sparking device, means for biasing said lever in a direcmember and said lever, a pawl connection between tion to actuate said sparking device, a movable actuating member for said sparking wheel having a torch-engageable portion located in the path of sparks projected from said sparking wheel, and a notched wheel intervening between said actuating member and said lever.

2. A pyrophoric lighter comprising a receptacle, a sparking device mounted in fixed position on said receptacle and comprising a sparking wheel and a pyrophoric element biased into engagement therewith, a lever disposed interiorly of said receptacle and connected to'said sparking device, means for biasing said lever in a direction to actuate said sparking device, a movable actuating member for said sparking wheel having a torchengageable portion located in the path of sparks projected from said sparking wheel, a notched ratchet wheel intervening between said actuating said actuating member and said ratchet wheel, and a pawl connection between said lever and said ratchet wheel.

3. A pyrophoric lighter comprising a receptacle, a sparking device mounted in fixed position on said receptacle and comprising a sparking wheel and a pyrophoric element biased into engagement therewith. whereby upon rotation of said wheel, sparks are projected to one side thereof, a lever disposed interiorly of said receptacle and connected to said sparking device, means for biasing said lever in a direction to actuate said sparking device, a movable actuating member for said sparking wheel having a torch-engageable portion, so located that torch means applied thereto will be in the path of said sparks, a notched ratchet wheel intervening between said actuating member and said lever, a pawl connection between said actuating member and said ratchet wheel, and a pawl connection between said lever and said ratchet wheel, whereby each downward movement of said actuating member by application of torch means thereto ilrst causes said ratchet wheel to turn and move said lever against its biasing means, the ratchet wheel then releasing said lever for operating said sparking device with a snap action.

4. A pyrophoric lighter comprising a receptacle, a sparking device mounted in xed position on said receptacle and comprising a. sparking wheel and a. pyrophoric element biased into engagement therewith, whereby upon rotation of said wheel, sparks are projected to one side thereof, a lever disposed interiorly of said receptacle and connected to said sparking device, means for biasing said lever in a direction to actuate said sparking device, a depressible siidable actuating member extending downwardly into the receptacle from a point adjacent the path of said sparks, said actuating member being adapted to be engaged at its upper end by a manually applied torch means, a ratchet wheel in said receptacle between said lever and said siidable member, pawl means on said lever and on said siidable member for engaging said ratchet wheel, whereby each downward movement of said siidable member by application of torch means thereto rst causes said ratchet wheel to turn and move said lever against its biasing means, the ratchet wheel then releasing said lever for operating said sparking device with a snap action.

LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

